What does this mean? bind off at beg of next 2 rows

#1

I’m knitting a baby sweater from Debbie Bliss’ “Baby Knits for Beginners”. I’ve made a few sweaters before, so I’m not completely clueless, but this instruction has me stumped:
Shape Shoulders:
Bind off 23 sts at beg of next 2 rows
Leave rem 37 sts on a holder

I’ve completed the back (bottom up in stockinette stitch) and then arrived at the above instruction. :think: It seems to me it would make more sense to bind off the first 23 sts then knit across the 37 and then bind off the last 23 sts on that same row, moving the 37 stitches in the middle to the holder. (There are 83 sts total in the row.)

Your thoughts would be warmly welcomed!
Thank you.

#2

I may be wrong, but I think the BO at the beginning of the two rows makes it so the slant of the BO is symmetrical on both sides. That is, the BO are both pointing toward the center of the work.

ALSO, think of this:

ROW 1: BO 23, K 37 BO 23.
ROW 2: ???
In order to turn, you would have to BREAK the yarn.

The pattern is written:

ROW 1: BO 23, K to end.
ROW 2: BO 23, place remaining stitches on holder.

When you end, your working yarn will be with those stitches you placed on the holder. Will you have to pick up stitches later to add a collar or hood? Would you have to seam together the collar or hood that you’ve knitted separately? If so, leave enough yarn from your BO so you don’t have to join yarns when you seam it.

I don’t know if this answers your question, but it might be why the pattern was written that way?

#3

Hiya jeanjean,
Just bind off your required stitches at the beginning of the row indicated, then work to the end of that row. Now turn your work, and bind off the other amount of stitches it says and you should have live stitches in the middle there sitting on your needle ready for the next step.

As for what you are suggesting. You wouldn’t have your working yarn in the correct place for working those middle stitches. Sure you could do it that way but you would have to join a new ball of yarn to those center stitches.
Also you might be instructed to start with right side facing. So that 2nd bind off row needs to be finished as well then you put your stitches on a holder or piece of waste yarn (waste yarn works better for rounded edges anyway).

#4

OKAY!! Now, I get it. Thanks for the clarification. :woohoo:

#5

Glad we could help!!:clink: